MINNEAPOLIS, June 30, 2025—Four architects were selected for the 2025 Young Architects Award. This honor is given by AIA Minnesota to individuals who, in the early stage of their architecture career, have shown exceptional leadership and made significant contributions to the profession. AIA Minnesota members who have been licensed to practice architecture less than 10 years are eligible for nomination.
This year’s winners are standout leaders in the Minnesota design community:
Shida Du, AIA, NOMA, a senior project designer with Perkins&Will Minneapolis, pursues excellence in architecture that facilitates human enrichment, regenerative ecosystems, and collective flourishing. In practice and community involvement, he models a pluralism in design culture through curiosity, compassion, and courageous leadership. His recent work includes serving as project designer and project architect for the replacement of Armstrong Hall at Minnesota State University, Mankato.
In a letter nominating Du for the Young Architects Award, Jennifer Christiaansen, AIA, managing director of Perkins&Will Minneapolis, wrote that “Shida’s design leadership is defined by his ability to daylight diverse perspectives and empower those around him. I have observed the delicate balance [he achieves in] pushing and advocating for design excellence while fostering inclusive team dynamics. In our profession, this is nuanced and challenging. Design is subjective and opinions are deeply personal. Shida finds a way to elevate thoughts for diverse dialogue and simultaneously reach consensus.”
Du was the winner of the Ralph Rapson Traveling Study Award in 2018 and has served on the Minnesota Architectural Foundation’s board of directors since 2020.
Wale Falade, AIA, NOMA, a principal with Locus Architecture in Minneapolis, is an architect leader noted for establishing a practice that emphasizes collaboration and incorporates diverse multicultural viewpoints in design. He promotes these principles across numerous professional and community engagements, including as a past adjunct instructor at Dunwoody College of Technology and as the current president of the Minneapolis–St. Paul chapter of the National Organization of Minority Architects (MSP NOMA).
“Across diverse project types, Wale brings the same commitment to three-dimensional storytelling and cultural expression, using our clients’ own stories as fundamental inspiration,” wrote Locus Architecture principal emeritus Wynne Yelland, AIA, in a letter supporting the nomination. “His designs grow from the lived experiences of our clients, elevating the voices of those we serve. Our public and nonprofit work is often subject to inconsistent funding where budgets can shrink overnight, but Wale meets these challenges calmly with a we-can-figure-this-out kind of optimism. He’s a bridge builder, a problem solver, and someone who holds to a hopeful vision even when the wind is in our face.”
Kelly Martinez, AIA, a senior project architect with BWBR, inspires future generations and enhances communities by making architecture and design accessible. With a passion for education, students, and service, she achieves this through her volunteering, practice, and leadership.
“Kelly brings a rare blend of humility and innovation to her practice,” wrote Russ Klein, chief facilities and resilience officer for the College of St. Benedict and St. John’s University. “She has been instrumental in early-stage ideation and strategic collaboration on our institutions’ emerging campus facilities plan—an effort that reflects an adaptive and aspirational approach to educational design. While those details remain in development, her role in shaping the vision has already made an impact on how our campuses think about space, stewardship, and long-term infrastructure planning.”
In addition to her project work at BWBR, Martinez has served on the board of directors for AIA Minneapolis and AIA Minnesota, and has an extensive volunteer resume, notably including multiyear involvement in the Minnesota State Fair STEM Day and in Canstruction, a fundraising and food-drive event.
Justin Wang, AIA, NOMA, a senior associate with Snow Kreilich Architects, seeks to advance the social benefit of architecture by elevating community-focused project work while engaging in service and mentorship activities that expand the voices within the profession. He was project architect and a designer for award-winning projects including Brookview Community Center in Golden Valley, Minnesota, by HGA, and the net-zero Lakewood Cemetery Welcome Center in Minneapolis, by Snow Kreilich and Miller Dunwiddie.
“In his work, Justin prioritizes advocating for the communities he serves, elevating public spaces with projects that exemplify AIA Framework for Design Excellence measures such as Design for Equitable Communities, Design for Energy, and Design for Integration,” wrote Karen Lu, FAIA, NOMA, design director and associate principal with Snow Kreilich Architects. “Justin’s projects advance architecture’s social and environmental responsibilities by engaging and centering community perspectives, acknowledging site histories, and conserving natural resources, while also integrating beauty and technical execution with equity and performance.”
Wang has championed mentorship at his own firm, at Dunwoody College of Technology, and with the AIA St. Paul Mentorship Task Force.
Serving on the 2025 AIA Minnesota Young Architects Award jury were AIA Minnesota volunteer leaders Greg Elsner, AIA, Michael Friebele, Assoc. AIA, Jyotsna Sivaguru, AIA, NOMA, Ann Voda, AIA, and Tate Walker, FAIA.
Recipients of this award are encouraged to submit for the AIA National Young Architects Award. To date, 31 AIA Minnesota architects have received the national award, including: Vicki L. Hooper, AIA, and Joan Soranno, FAIA, in 1993; William Blanski, FAIA, 1995; Michael Fischer, AIA, and Robert Rothman, AIA, 1996; Jeffrey Kagermeier, AIA, 2001; Mohammed Lawal, FAIA, 2002; Paul Neuhaus, AIA, 2003; James Dayton, AIA, 2005; Philip Koski, AIA, 2007; Michael Meehan, AIA, 2008; Matthew Kreilich, FAIA, and Michael Schellin, AIA, 2009; Steven Dwyer, FAIA, 2011; Timothy Bicknell, AIA, 2012; John Dwyer, AIA, and Alissa D. Luepke Pier, AIA, 2013; Bob Ganser, AIA, Amy Kalar, AIA, and Karen Lu, AIA, 2016; Angela Wolf Scott, AIA, and Malini Srivastava, AIA, 2018; James Garrett Jr., FAIA, NOMA, 2019; Meredith Hayes Gordon, AIA, Damaris Melo, AIA, NOMA, Amber Sausen, AIA, and Jesse Turck, AIA, 2020; Dagmara Larsen, AIA, and Daniel Yudchitz, AIA, 2021; and Simona Fischer, AIA, and David Wilson, AIA, 2023.
Du, Falade, Martinez, and Wang will be recognized at an AIA Minnesota Awards Celebration on Tuesday, August 19, 2025, at the Room & Board showroom in Edina. Learn more about the AIA Minnesota Young Architects Award here.
